Monday, May 23, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai: A Jordan-based investor is planning a Dh3.67 billion Disneyland-type themed entertainment resort in Jordans southern port city of Aqaba featuring attractions inspired by the Hollywood hit movie Star Trek.
Rubicon Group Holding (RGH), an entertainment organisation, yesterday said it will design and produce The Red Sea Astrarium (TRSA), a 184-acre themed entertainment resort located in Aqaba which, through a licence from CBS Consumer Products, will feature attractions inspired by the 2009 international hit motion picture Star Trek.
The Star Trek attraction is being developed by Paramount Recreation.
The announcement was made by Randa S. Ayoubi, CEO of Rubicon Group Holding, at the Jordanian-American Business Forum in a signing ceremony attended by business leaders from Jordan and the United States.
The Red Sea Astrarium is expected to become a family destination attracting visitors from the 350 million residents of the Middle East as well as thrillseekers from all over the world.
World-class attraction
Architectural firm Callison has been engaged to work with RGH, including Paramount Recreation and CBS, to master-plan the project.
RGH has joined with CBS Consumer Products and Paramount Recreation to create a Star Trek-themed centre that will deliver a variety of multi-sensory 23rd-century experiences, culminating with a state-of-the-art space-flight adventure that takes real-time immersive entertainment experiences to bold new heights, a company spokesperson said.
The move comes eight years after Dubai launched Dubailand a large collection of theme parks and resorts.
Abu Dhabi has already created Ferrari World, one of the finest theme parks in the region.
This exciting, world-class attraction will serve as the cornerstone of the TRSA sectors world of tomorrow. This will mark the iconic propertys first themed entertainment venue outside the United States.
The company is targeting major investors to build attractions in accordance with TRSA concepts, including a carefully chosen group of investors from the Gulf.
We have started talks with a group of GCC investors, Gassan Ayoubi, Executive Director of RGH Gulf, told Gulf News in a phone interview.
Some of them have expressed strong interest in the project. We are currently in close negotiations with one of them for a possible deal.
He said the company could replicate the same in other markets, including the Gulf, if it finds the right partners.
Employment offer
The project will generate employment for more than 500 skilled workers in the local community.
The project will help attract investment to Aqaba, where Abu Dhabi developer Al Maabar is pumping Dh36 billion in Marsa Zayed, a mixed-use development that will expand Aqabas skyline with tens of towers and a number of resorts.
TRSA will be a destin-ation showcase in an extraordinary part of Jordan, said Ayoubi.
The opportunity to lead the design on such a remarkable project and to work with such world class partners as CBS and Paramount is a dream come true for the entire RGH family. We are honoured, elated, and proud to have our themed entertainment team in charge of moving this project forward.
At its core, Star Trek is about bringing worlds together and about a profound hope for the future, said Liz Kalodner, executive vice-president and general manager of CBS Consumer Products.
We are proud to bring such a unique, interactive Star Trek property to this part of the world to be a part of Jordans future.
Led by Randa S. Ayoubi, Chief Executive Officer, Rubicon employs over 300 staff members in four locations Amman, Los Angeles, Manila and Dubai.
It has established itself as a leading creative force for the design, production and distribution of compelling entertainment and instructive media across multiple delivery platforms.
By Saifur Rahman, Business Editor
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
